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Tariq Ali argues that terrorists have changed the world in ways that
serve their own religious, political and ideological aims. They've
forced the West to compromise on the very foundations of liberal
democracy and wind back hard-won freedoms in the name of security.
Speaking at the recent Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Ali provocatively
suggests that the terrorists' actions pale in comparison to the West's
retributive "Wars on Terror". In fact he calls these wars "State
Terrorism" of which the cruel backlash has been an increase in the ranks
of extremist organizations.
In this broad-sweeping discussion, Ali draws a parallel with the current
geopolitical situation and that of the Western world in the late 19th
century. Like today, that society was in a period of transition, with no
meaningful political opposition. What emerged then was a group of
violent activists in the form of anarchists.
Ultimately Ali's message is: we must understand the motivations of
terrorists in order to deal effectively with them. And to Ali this means
relinquishing our bias to Israel and our occupation of parts of the
Middle East.
Tariq Ali appeared at the 2010 Festival of Dangerous Ideas, presented by
the Sydney Opera House and St James Ethics Centre. Chair of the
discussion was Ann Mossop.
Tariq Ali was in Australia to present the 2010 Edward Said Memorial
Lecture at the University of Adelaide.